Firms giving diversity 'a low priority'

Despite more stringent legislation in place to tackle discrimination and boost diversity in UK workplaces, many companies are failing to make it a priority.

A new study by online recruitment firm Monster discovered that just four out of ten employers felt that diversity was a "big priority", while 36 per cent claimed that it was not a priority at all and 15 per cent stated that they were "unsure".

The poll of 660 employers also found that around six out of ten respondents admitted that they did not have a diverse workforce or were unsure whether they did or not, Personnel Today reports.

However, one in ten employers accepted that diversity in their company had not yet been realised but had started to think about addressing it.

Rob Brouwer, Monster UK and Ireland chief executive, commented: "Employers may not be aware of the rewards a diverse workforce can reap for their business. People from different backgrounds provide the workforce with a broader skill set and cultural differences in practice and enables you to select from a bigger pool of candidates."

Despite Britain's attempts to improve diversity, through campaigns and legislation, employers are still not making enough effort to boost diversity and address issues within their businesses.

© Adfero Ltd
Date:31/07/2007 11:28:12